Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Four


~Author’s Pov~ 

“Just bedspreads,” Mira whispered to herself, balancing the folded linens against her hip as she approached Nyx’s door. She had always avoided getting around Nyx or doing anything that concerned him but tonight, the maid in charge was nowhere to be found and she had to take care of his room. 

“Spread them. No drama, in and out.”

It was late. Almost midnight. Mira didn’t expect him to be in—Nyx was rarely in his chambers at this hour on the royal club night. He was probably out drinking with someone’s wife or starting a petty fight with another noble, as usual. So she didn’t knock. She opened the door and stepped in. 

And froze. 

Goodness. 

There he was. 

Nyx, shirtless, leaning back to the chaise with two maids draped around him like he was some damn god of temptation. One of them had her lips pressed to his neck. The other was straddling his lap, kissing him slowly, like that had done it a hundred times before. And he—he was laughing. 

She just stood there, stunned. Despite how many times she had seen him pick a lady up, this was the first time seeing him actually fucking them. 

Her heart dropped into her stomach. 

She needed to stop being delusional and snap out of her daze. 

“Oh,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’m—I didn’t know you were in—I’m sorry—“

Nyx looked up lazily, brows raised, mildly annoyed at the interruption. “Well, this is unexpected,” he drawled, licking his bottom lip as he gazed at her with intensity. “Care to join us?”

The two maids giggled, one of them running a finger down his chest. 

Mira blinked, stunned. Shocked at how he could still have the nerve to invite her to join his shameless act. “No—no, thank you sir.”

Her voice was too small. She hated that. 

Nyx stared at her, his brows raised at her rejection. No one would think twice before jumping at the opportunity. 

He grinned, teasing. “Sure? There’s room for one more.”

“I just came to drop the bedspreads.”

Mira set them down—her hands trembling—and backed away. 

“Goodnight, Lord Nyx.”

Then she turned and walked out as fast as her legs would carry her without outright sprinting. 

Isla was brushing her hair in front of the mirror when Mira came in. She looked up instantly. She was supposed to take more time trying to clean up Nyx’s room. 

“Mira?” She asked, her brow furrowed. “What happened?”

She didn’t answer. She closed the door quietly behind her and collapsed on the edge of the bed. Her hands were clenched in her lap. Her chest felt right. 

She wasn’t supposed to be feeling this way. 

Not after so many years. 

“Mira?” Isla said again, more urgently now. She stood up and knelt in front of her, trying to meet her eyes. “Hey—what’s wrong? Did someone say something to you?”

Mira shook her head, but her eyes burned. 

Isla stilled. “Did someone touch you?”

“No!” Mira said too quickly, shaking her head. “No, it’s nothing—really. I just need some air.”

But her tears betrayed her. 

One spilled over. Then another. She covered her mouth, trying to stop it, but the sob burst out anyway. Isla pulled her into her arms instantly, and she hated it—she hated crying. She wasn’t the type. She was strong. She had to be strong in this place.

“Mira,” Isla whispered, rubbing her back. “Please tell me. You never cry. This isn’t nothing.”

“I said I’m fine!” Mira snapped, standing up abruptly.

Isla looked hurt but didn’t say anything else.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and left the room. She couldn’t stay there. Not like this.


Elias’s POV

I was dragging my feet back toward my room after an entire day buried in books. I’d lost track of time inside that damn library. Sorin was intense—quiet, always watching—but helpful. Still, I had a headache the size of a mountain, and I needed a hot bath and a soft bed.

I turned the corner and nearly collided with Mira.

She was flushed and red-eyed, like she’d been crying.

“Mira?” I blinked. “Are you okay?”

She startled, not expecting to see anyone. “Elias—hi. I’m fine.”

She wasn’t.

I frowned. “Are you sure?”

She waved me off. “It’s nothing. Just… stress. Night duties.”

I let it go, sensing she wouldn’t talk about it even if I pushed. “Where are you headed?”

“Downstairs,” she said. “Just finishing up the last few things.”

I nodded, then smiled faintly. “I was in the library all day.”

Her eyes lit up a little. “Really?”

“Yeah. Big surprise I’ll tell you about later.”

She smirked. “You? Keeping secrets? Color me shocked.”

We both chuckled softly. For a moment, the tension eased.

Then I asked, “Hey… do you know where Lucien is?”

I wasn’t supposed to ask. But I did anyway. 

Throughout the whole day, he didn’t check on me, neither did I. None of us was willing to bring up the matter again. I should leave it to him this time. 

I did my best. 

I was tired to teaching him. 

I apologized but he didn’t acknowledge it so fuck it. 

She hesitated for just a second. “I think… tonight’s a royal club night.”

I blinked. “What’s that?”

“It’s… a thing the royal brothers sometimes do. Kind of a secret lounge where they meet with ladies, nobles, sometimes staff,” she said carefully. “Not everyone gets in. They usually pick someone to, uh… enjoy the night with.”

I felt my heart drop.

“And Lucien’s there?”

Dumb question. Of course he was going to be there—

“I hadn’t seen him go in for a long time,” Mira said. “He stopped going. But tonight… yeah, I saw him go with Nyx.”

She added, almost absently, “Nyx’s already back, though. He brought two girls with him. Saw them just now.”

I froze.

Lucien. At a club. With women.

I clenched my jaw.

“Thanks, Mira,” I said stiffly.

She gave me a soft look—one I didn’t want right now—and left for her duties.

I went into my room and shut the door.

Then I started pacing.

Lucien wouldn’t. He wouldn’t go back to something like that. Not now. Not after everything. Not after the way he held me this morning. The way he kissed my forehead. That meant something, didn’t it?

Why wasn’t he answering my texts?

I pulled out my phone.

“Where are you?”
No reply.

“Are you at the club?”
Nothing.

I called.

Straight to voicemail.

I called again.

Voicemail.

Fury, thick and heavy, crawled into my chest. What the hell was he doing? Why wouldn’t he answer? What if he was with someone?

The thought made me sick.

Was he going to be like this everytime we had issues? 

Nah. I promised myself not to get entangled with something like this. 

How could he treat me this way? 

I thought we were getting somewhere. I thought we had something in between us. I thought—we owed each other loyalty at least. 

I gritted my teeth, ran a hand through my hair.

Then, before I could stop myself, I grabbed my coat.

If he wasn’t going to answer me, I’d find him myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. It wouldn’t be wise of me if I ruin everything because I was overthinking but he wasn’t even replying me!! 

“Lucien….” I hissed, “Please, let it not be it.”